It’s goodbye Java and hello NXT – RuneScape is now powered by an all-new visual engine and it’s never looked so good.

It’s goodbye Java and hello NXT – RuneScape is now powered by an all-new visual engine and it’s never looked so good.

NXT is RuneScape’s all-new proprietary visual engine and game client and it’s available right now. • RuneScape has never looked so resplendent as it takes the NXT steps in its 15-year adventure. • Adventure in the new NXT-powered world of RuneScape atwww.runescape.com

Tuesday 19th April 2016, Cambridge, UK – RuneScape, the iconic award-winning online adventure game, has received the most important update in its 15-year history with the launch of NXT, an all-new proprietary visual engine and game client, Jagex Games Studio announced today.

In development for over two years at Jagex Games Studio, NXT delivers a total graphical overhaul and a raft of technical improvements for RuneScape’s ever-growing band of players. To experience the newly resplendent world of Gielinor within minutes, players can download the NXT client right now and sign in with their RuneScape account information. Gamers can also see the new NXT-powered world in a brand new trailer.

Having welcomed over 245 million adventurers to the game world, the arrival of NXT is a landmark evolution for RuneScape as it celebrates its 15th anniversary. NXT provide the opportunity to adventure through a new lens, with the game’s rich environments rendered with massively extended draw distances, up to four times greater than before, and the introduction of all-new water effects, complete with real-time reflexion and refraction, and full dynamic lighting and shadow casting.

However, NXT is more than just an impressive graphical overhaul: NXT’s release marks a significant milestone as it transitions the game from being a legacy Java-based title to a modern, future-proof MMO. The arrival of NXT is just the start of a process to further enhance the game’s visuals; continuing NXT development will also see the introduction of normal maps, higher-resolution textures, volumetric lighting and an improved animation system.

Said Phil Mansell, vice president of RuneScape at Jagex Games Studio:

“The new NXT game client is another big step forward for RuneScape. The development team have done a fantastic job engineering a new client that brings significant improvements to visuals and whilst also making it run much faster. It’s been a few years in the making but has been well worth it, as NXT isn’t just a one-off upgrade, it also enables even more new features for the future. Current players have already got a taste of what NXT offers in recent closed beta tests and its full release is a great reason for former players to check out what’s new in RuneScape.”

NXT – The key features

Massively extended draw distance, up to 4x compared to Java client

Fully dynamic lighting and shadow casting over RuneScape’s vast world

Real-time reflection, refraction and ambient occlusion in all environments

Atmospherics augmented with physically correct light scattering

Improved performance across an even broader set of PCs from across the past 12 years

Built-in support for DirectX12, meaning better future proofing

Support for wide range of operating systems, including Windows XP to Windows 10, OSX 10.7+, and Ubuntu 14.04+

About Jagex
Established in 2001, Jagex Games Studio today stands as the UK’s largest independent game developer and publisher and is the home of the flagship online adventure game, RuneScape. Celebrating its 15th Year anniversary in 2016, RuneScape has welcomed over 245 million players to its world and more than two million of them play every month, while millions more watch avidly through social channels. In addition to RuneScape, Jagex is developing newRuneScape-branded games as it enters additional genres, including Chronicle: RuneScape Legends, an adventure strategy card game, and RuneScape: Idle Adventures created in partnership with Hyper Hippo, the developers of cult hit Adventure Capitalist. Jagex employs over 320 people at its Cambridge headquarters. Career information can be found atwww.jagex.com

About RuneScape
Step into a medieval fantasy world that’s packed with epic adventures, fascinating characters and a passionate community that helps to mould the game itself. Unashamedly British in humour, RuneScape embraces an unconventional world where you’re free to play and explore the way you want to. An MMO unlike any other – become the hero you were born to be atwww.runescape.com .